posted at 6:00 pm on February 12, 2011 by Ed Morrissey

Alternate headline: CPAC straw poll plumbs depths of irrelevance yet again. How meaningless was the straw poll for preferred GOP presidential nominee? The bronze-medal winner is Gary Johnson, the libertarian former governor of New Mexico. That means that the libertarian vote actually got split this year, and wound up taking two out of three spots on the straw poll anyway:

For the second year in a row, Ron Paul won the presidential straw poll at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, earning 30 percent of the vote.

The Texas congressman, known for his libertarian views, ran for president in 2008 but was never a serious contender for the GOP nomination.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a 2008 GOP candidate who is expected to run again, came in second place with 23 percent of the vote. Romney won the previous three presidential straw polls before Paul snapped his streak last year. …

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie came in a distant third with 6 percent of the vote, followed by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich with 5 percent.

Considering the environment, Romney has to feel pretty good about gaining the silver medal. After Christie, who’s not running, and Gingrich, who may be, the order of the poll results were:

Tim Pawlenty – 4%

Michele Bachmann – 4%

Mitch Daniels – 4%

Sarah Palin – 3%

Herman Cain – 2%

Of the five, only Palin didn’t appear at CPAC this year. Finishing below them were two prominent potential candidates, Rick Santorum and Haly Barbour, who did and finished with 2% and 1% respectively for their efforts. When combining first and second choices, the onlychange in the order is that Bachmann and Pawlenty trade places.

In other straw poll results, a slim majority of straw poll respondents believe that Republican control of Congress will rein in federal spending (51%) and reduce government regulation (50%). A plurality of 47% believe that the GOP can get Congress to cut federal taxes. CPAC’s voters are more pessimistic about repealing ObamaCare and paying down the national debt, with a plurality of 40% on each question believing that Congress won’t accomplish either task.

Of course, when Ron Paul and Gary Johnson team up on the dream CPAC ticket, maybe they’ll get a little more optimistic ….

YAF’s concern with Rep. Paul stems from his delusional and disturbing alliance with the fringe Anti-War movement.

“It is a sad day in American history when a one-time conservative-libertarian stalwart has fallen more out of touch with America’s needs for national security than the current feeble and appeasing administration,” said YAF’s Senior National Director Jordan Marks.

“Rep. Paul’s refusal to support our nation’s military and national security interests border on treason, aside from his failure to uphold his oath to the United States Constitution and defend our country and citizens against all enemies, foreign and domestic,” Marks continued.

“Rep. Paul has strayed to the left of Obama and allied himself with the radical anti-war left by laying the blame on America for the unprovoked attacks of Sept. 11th. Additionally, Rep. Paul has not condemned the 9/11 “Truther” conspiracy theorists that support him, and he has repeatedly insisted, that the United States not bring justice to those who have murdered thousands of our civilians and soldiers at home and abroad. This is simply unacceptable. Clearly Rep. Paul cares more about a doomed presidential run than he does our country,” Marks added.

I didn’t add this to the post yesterday because I didn’t think it amounted to much, except for a chance to beat up Ron Paul a bit. Commenters have noted the expulsion on other threads, however, and since this post will ride on top for a while, it seemed like a good place to note the expulsion. It certainly qualifies as a stinging rebuke.

A replica white house is built on a set. Ron Paul is woken up and told he won the election and is now president. We swear him in and start the “press conference”. Bonus, same story told to Alex Jones, who is “hired” to be his press secretary.

Yep, they seem to turn out in force, but they just marginalizing the CPAC convention. Sane conservatives look at the Paul’s (father and son) as kooks, who occasionally come up with some good ideas. CPAC is relevant, the straw poll is a bad joke.

I’m sure Ron is thrilled for their level of commitment and dedication. But I also wonder how many times he’s walked into a room with them and the stray thought “Holy $h!t! I’m the coolest person here..” crossed his mind.

Ron Paul would actually fix this country. Thats why he can’t win. Republicans dont want to fix this country. Democrats dont want to fix this country. There is no money in fixing our problems. The money is in prolonging them and borrowing money to pay for each sides pet projects. Democrats refuse to cut any social programs. Republicans refuse to cut any defense spending. Don’t act like one side is better than the other, they both will do NOTHING to fix this country.

At CPAC–I met Mr. Morrissey–and elsewhere, discussions rage as to how to turn young people onto conservatism. Well, perhaps this is what happen when you do: you get libertarians, and para-liberterians.

Being a conservative is harder than being a liberal or leftist. When you accept only part of the conservative package, you get libertarians and Paulbots. Is that an improvement over getting liberals and leftists? Probably, but I’m not sure.

Ok and one last thing. Why don’t you come out about the truth about 9/11?

[Pause…]

Ron Paul:

Because I can’t handle the controversy. I have the IIF, the Federal Reserve to deal with, and the IRS to deal with. Because, no I just have work— too many things on my plate. Because I just have too much to do.

Here is Ron Paul on the House floor claiming Bush was a war criminal who green lighted Saddam to invade Kuwait in some grand Neo-con scheme.

Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, how did the 20-year war get started?

It had been long assumed that the United States Government, shortly before Iraq invaded Kuwait in August of 1990, gave Saddam Hussein a green light to attack. A State Department cable recently published by WikiLeaks confirmed that U.S. Ambassador April Glaspie did indeed have a conversation with Saddam Hussein one week prior to Iraq’s August 1, 1990, invasion of Kuwait.

The secrecy of the memo was designed to hide the truth from the American people and keep our government from being embarrassed. This was the initial event that had led to so much death and destruction–not to mention the financial costs–these past 20 years.

This is a perfect example of my problem with Paul supporters. He is the ONLY MAN THAT CAN SAVE AMERICA! Seriously you folks need some help with this self delusional martyr syndrome you have going with Paul.

Being a conservative is harder than being a liberal or leftist. When you accept only part of the conservative package, you get libertarians and Paulbots. Is that an improvement over getting liberals and leftists? Probably, but I’m not sure.

ParisParamus on February 12, 2011 at 6:37 PM

It absolutely is. We should be very happy indeed to see young people getting enthusiastic about limited government, personal responsibility and balanced budgets, as opposed to Obama-style governmental-messianism.

It absolutely is. We should be very happy indeed to see young people getting enthusiastic about limited government, personal responsibility and balanced budgets, as opposed to Obama-style governmental-messianism.

Inkblots on February 12, 2011 at 6:44 PM

It’s the isolationism that’s part and parcel of the mania that scares me.

Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul) is recognized for 5 minutes.

this truly is a must see work of misinformation and deceitfulness

now, keep in mind many idiots are listening to him and thinking that what he says is absolute truth. If you believe what Paul says then yes, it would be okay to Call Cheney and Rumsfeld war criminals so no surpise thats what his Cult does

It absolutely is. We should be very happy indeed to see young people getting enthusiastic about limited government, personal responsibility and balanced budgets, as opposed to Obama-style governmental-messianism.

Let’s be truthful about this. Most if not all are excited about drug legalization. Let Captain Senility change his position on that topic and watch his youthful supporters disappear in a literal puff of smoke.

Aww. That’s where I shop for my kitty and doggie. Sometimes they have cats for adoption there…I got both dog and cat from local Humane Society shelter, and it’s hard to pass these animals without wanting to take them all home.

I volunteer at Lutheran Thrift Shop. Our proceeds go to the local Missouri Synod Lutheran parochial schools, and to Orphan Grain Train.
We also distribute the produce and day-old bread Whole Foods would otherwise throw away.

Aww. That’s where I shop for my kitty and doggie. Sometimes they have cats for adoption there…I got both dog and cat from local Humane Society shelter, and it’s hard to pass these animals without wanting to take them all home.

JetBoy on February 12, 2011 at 6:51 PM

I have that problem too but my husband says that I have choice:
I can have 2 cats and one husband-OR I can have 3 cats.
I’ve settled on the former…for now.
*smirk*

ross perot? soros? Wow, if this the best the cpac can give us wow? paul is no way no how in the league of West, Cain, or many others there! BTW, those who think paul is better than sliced bread, OUR home will not vote for this slug!
L

It’s the isolationism that’s part and parcel of the mania that scares me.

unclesmrgol on February 12, 2011 at 6:50 PM

Look, polls have been showing for years that young people have been slipping away from the Republican party and the conservative movement. Say what you will about Ron Paul, but his campaign has been getting young passionate about Liberty, talking about the Constitution and limited government, and, importantly, registering Republican. We need young people if we’re going to ‘win the future’, and Ron Paul is delivering them.